Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan Sign Treaty to Boost Trade to $1 Billion

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan signed a Treaty on Eternal Friendship during a state visit to Tashkent. The agreement establishes a target to increase bilateral trade turnover to $1 billion by 2030. During the third meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council, the leaders launched several Azerbaijani-backed initiatives in banking, mining, and tourism, including the $5 billion Sea Breeze Uzbekistan development.

To enhance trans-Caspian logistics, the two nations are strengthening the Middle Corridor. President Mirziyoyev proposed a dedicated Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan transport corridor in the Caspian Sea managed by a single operator and called for the acceleration of a joint fleet. Politically, Azerbaijan has transitioned from an honorary guest to a full participant in the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, expanding the regional C5 configuration to a C6.

President Aliyev also provided updates on the Zangezur Corridor project, stating that the main section within Azerbaijan is expected to be completed by 2027. While construction has begun in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Aliyev noted that the 42-kilometer Armenian section is slated to begin late 2026 or early 2027. Azerbaijan intends to finish its portions of the project regardless of the timeline in Armenia. Additionally, the two countries will jointly host the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup.